During the current crisis and rising unemployment rates, more people are competing for job openings. If you want to stand out from the crowd and impress a hiring manager, we’ve put together a list of things employers look for in potential candidates.
1. Behaviour
An employer values good behaviour when searching for a new team member. They look for those who are motivated to work, mature and optimistic. They will stay clear of candidates that seem uninterested and pessimistic.
It is about understanding how to act in a workplace, and knowing what is appropriate and what isn’t. During any interaction with the employer and hiring manager, make sure you stay professional.
2. Attitude
Employers look for candidates with a good attitude.
Show the employer that you have a confident, enthusiastic and hard working ethic. This will not only help you in securing a role, it will also maintain it.
Helping others also goes a long way, so let them know that you are a team player that is always willing to extend a hand to your teammates.
3. Capabilities
Are you able to meet deadlines? Does your skill set match the role you are applying for? These are things that the hiring manager will take into consideration when making the ultimate decision to hire you.
If you’re applying for an IT related role, the employer is going to want to know what you can bring to the table and how familiar you are with the role.
4. Appearance
What you wear to your interview can also play a part. With the current circumstances, many interviews are now taking place digitally over applications such as Skype. If your interview is a video call, you should still make an effort in how you look. Try to dress smartly and keep your hair properly groomed.
You can do some research on the companies website and social media accounts to get an idea of what their dress code is, with uniform and smart casual being the usual choices for companies.
5. Experience
A question that always comes up during the hiring stage is ‘what experience do you have?’. If you’ve worked similar roles, you will be able to talk about what your day-to-day life looked like and what responsibilities you had.
If you haven’t got previous work experience, try to use examples from your personal life. For example, any hobbies or interests you may have that relate to the job role, or any studying you have done. Those who are applying for a Digital Marketer role might have interests in photography, blog writing or graphic design and so on.
6. If you fit in
Employers want to hire someone who would work well with the rest of their team. They’ll try to get an understanding of your personality type, so you’ll need to appear friendly and approachable.
They will also want to know if you match their company visions and values. For example, The B2W Group’s key values include respect, caring, ownership, open & honest, bold and kaizen. We would look for candidates who also stand by these values.
7. Willingness to learn
As human beings, we can’t know the answer to everything. Employers also understand this. They want someone who can understand their weaknesses as well as strengths, and are willing to work on them.
A tricky but common question asked is ‘what is your biggest weakness?’ (we created an article to help you answer this question here). This isn’t a trick question where employers are really looking for you to say ‘none! I’m perfect’. They want to know if you’re willing to communicate on how you can improve. Remember – everyone has weaknesses.
The world constantly changes, and employers want someone who wants to continuously learn and keep up with those changes.
Want to get started in a digital career?
We understand that IT skills are vital in any business. If you’re looking for a new role but don’t have any experience, The B2W Group provides a funded Digital Technologies qualification that teaches IT, digital, and employability skills that an employer will look for in a candidate.
This course is free to unemployed residents of the Greater Manchester and South Yorkshire area, and will be delivered completely online over the course of three weeks.
If you want to find out more, visit here.
Further Reading
Job Interviews – Making a Good First Impression
You’ve secured an interview with an employer, that’s great! You may be nervous, especially if this is your first interview. Confidence and a first good impression are key, so we’ve put together some tips on leaving a good first impression and helping you get the job offer you want.
